Method for packaging products and packaging installation

ABSTRACT

In a method for packaging products, the products are packaged with a packaging material on a packaging line. The packaging material is first of all drawn off a first packaging-material reel and fed to the packaging line. When the first packaging-material reel has been at least partially used up, an initial portion of a second packaging-material reel is made to overlap with a packaging-material portion already drawn off the first packaging-material reel and is joined to the latter packaging-material portion. After the two packaging-material portions have been joined together, the packaging material is drawn off from the second packaging-material reel and fed to the packaging line. The two above-mentioned packaging-material portions are joined together by a stamping operator of a stamping device. There is also described a packaging installation for carrying out the method.

The present invention relates to a method for packaging products and a packaging installation for packaging products.

In the beverage industry in particular it is usual for products, such as, for example, bottles, cans, and/or other containers filled with beverages to be packed on a packaging line with a packaging material.

It is often the case that the packaging material used for packaging the products is provided in a wound-up state in the form of reels. In such a case, the packaging material is drawn off a reel of packaging material and conveyed to the packaging line. The drawing off and unwinding of the packaging material usually takes place in a continuous process. If the store of packaging material of a packaging material reel is exhausted, or almost exhausted, the packaging line must be provided with the packaging material from a new packaging material reel.

In order not to interrupt the operation of the packaging line during the reel change, or only as briefly as possible, the principle is known of providing several packaging material reels to supply the packaging line. In this situation, provision is made for the packaging material first to be drawn off from a first packaging material reel (also referred to as the active reel), and to be conveyed to the packaging line. When the first packaging material reel is for the most part used up, an initial portion of a second packaging material reel (also referred to as the store reel) is connected to a packaging material portion which has already been drawn off from the first packaging material reel. After the connecting of the two packaging material portions, the second packaging material reel becomes the active reel. That is to say, after the connection, the packaging material reel is drawn off and conveyed to the packaging line. A new or third packaging material reel is then used as the storage reel, which replaces the first packaging material reel. When the second packaging material reel is largely used up, the process described heretofore with the second and third packaging material reel is repeated, and so on.

A method of the type described heretofore is known, for example, from the printed publication WO 2016/066643 A1. With the method which is disclosed in the publication referred to, the connecting of a packaging material portion of a first packaging material reel with a packaging material portion of a second packaging material portion takes place by a welding process, wherein film is used as the packaging material. Disadvantageous with this method is the fact that it cannot be used with, for example, paper as the packaging material. In addition, the heating and subsequent cooling of the packaging material sections which are to be connected require a relatively long period of time, with the result that with this method the process of connecting takes a relatively large amount of time. In addition to this, with this method a welding device is required, which is likewise disadvantageous due to a usually high degree of maintenance effort for the welding devices.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a method for packaging products and a corresponding packaging installation, with which at least a part of the disadvantages of the prior art referred to heretofore can be avoided or reduced. In particular, it is intended that the expenditure of time and/or maintenance should be reduced, and/or the flexibility increased in respect of the packaging material which can be used.

The object is solved according to the invention by a method in accordance with claim 1, and a packaging installation in accordance with packaging 11.

Preferred and advantageous further embodiments of the invention are provided in the further claims and in the following description. The features and feature combinations contained in the claims are declared to be a constituent part of the description.

With the method according to the invention, the products which are to be packed are packed in a packaging line with a packaging material, wherein

-   -   the packaging material is first drawn off from a first packaging         reel and conveyed to the packaging line,     -   when the first packaging material roll is at least partially         used up, an initial portion of a second packaging material reel         is brought into overlap with a packaging material portion of the         first packaging material reel which is already drawn off, and is         then connected to this packaging material portion last referred         to, and     -   after the connecting of the two packaging material portions, the         packaging material is drawn off from the second packaging         material reel and conveyed to the packaging line.

The method according to the invention is characterised in that the two packaging material portions referred to are joined together by means of a stamping device, by a stamping process.

It has transpired that the connection formed by the stamping process between the two packaging material portions referred to is sufficiently robust for the connection not to become detached during the transport of the packaging material to the packaging line.

One advantage of the joining of two packaging material portions by a stamping process is that such a form of connection can be used not only with film, but also with other materials, such as, for example material. A further advantage is that no consumption material is required for joining the packaging material portions, such as the adhesive strips usually used with the joining of paper, as a result of which the method can be carried out economically.

In addition, with the stamping method, unlike a welding process, no heating and cooling time is required, as a result of which the joining can in principle be carried out relatively rapidly. Moreover, a stamping device is a device requiring relatively little maintenance, with the result that the apparatus required to carry out the method does not involve any considerable maintenance effort or expenditure.

The products which are to be packed can be, in particular, containers for beverages, such as glass bottles, plastic bottles, or cans.

In the meaning of the invention, the term initial portion of a packaging material reel is to be understood to be a packaging material portion of the packaging material reel which comprises its free or outer end.

A packaging material reel can be interpreted in the meaning of the present invention as at least partially used up when its diameter falls below a predetermined diameter limit value.

Purposefully, the said second packaging material reel is an unused packaging material reel. This can be understood in particular to be a packaging material reel of which the diameter is greater, for example at least 100% greater, preferably at least 150% greater, than the said diameter limit value. The second packaging material reel preferably comprises the same packaging material as the first packaging material reel. Moreover, it is to the purpose if both the said packaging material reels exhibit the same width.

With the stamping process, advantageously a stamping pattern is produced on the two packaging material portions which are to be joined. This can, for example, comprise a matrix-form arrangement of stamping points.

Purposefully, the first packaging material reel rotates at a predetermined rotation speed while the packaging material is being drawn off from the first packaging material reel. The predetermined rotation speed can be dependent, in particular, on the (momentary) diameter of the first packaging material reel. That is to say, the rotation speed of the first packaging material reel can vary over time, in particular in such a way that the rotation speed increases with the decreasing diameter of the first packaging material reel.

Before the two packaging material portions referred to are joined to one another, it is to the purpose if the rotation speed of the first packaging material reel is reduced. In this situation, provision can be made in particular for the rotation speed of the first packaging material reel to be reduced to zero, i.e. the first packaging material reel is brought to a standstill. Before and/or while the rotation speed of the first packaging material reel is being reduced, advantageously packaging material from the first packaging material reel is intermediately stored in a buffer device. After the joining of the two packaging material portions referred to, the second packaging material reel is purposefully accelerated, until it has reached a predetermined rotation speed.

As mentioned heretofore, the packaging material can be, for example, paper. In this case, provision can be made that, after a product combination has been wound up at least partially with the packaging material, parts of the packaging material which are projecting from the wound up product combination, referred to as folding tabs, are folded or brought into contact, and adhesive is applied to at least some of the folding tabs.

As an alternative, the packaging material can also be, for example, a film material, in particular a shrink film. In this case, provision can be made, for example, that after a product combination has been at least partially wound up from the packaging material, the packaging material is shrunk by a thermal shrinking process.

In addition, the packaging material can also be a printed or non-printed packaging material.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the initial portion of the second packaging material reel to be joined to the said packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel immediately or essentially immediately at its transverse edge. As a result, the situation can be avoided in which an area is formed at the initial portion of the second packaging material reel in front of the connection point which could be raised up from the said packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel, as a result of which an unintended detachment of the connection can be reliably avoided.

The transverse edge of the initial portion of the second packaging material reel is to be understood in the present situation as being the edge of the initial portion which is running in the direction of the width of the second packaging material reel. The formulation that the initial portion of the second packaging material reel is joined “essentially immediately” at its transverse edge with the said packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel can be understood to mean that the initial portion of the second packaging material reel is joined to the other packaging material portion at a distance interval of maximum 10 mm, preferably a maximum of 5 mm, from its transverse edge.

Preferably, after the joining of the two said packaging material portions of the packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel, joined to the initial portion of the second packaging material reel, is separated from the part of the first packaging material reel which is still wound up. After the separation, the first packaging material reel can be replaced, for example, by a third, preferably unused packaging material reel.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for a product combination with the packaging material is packed in the packaging line in such a way that the packaging formed from the packaging material for the product combination comprises the connection point at which the two said packaging material portions are joined to one another. This has the advantage that the part of the packaging material comprising the connection point is used to form a packaging and is not screened out, as a result of which the material consumption of the packaging material is reduced.

The production composition referred to heretofore can comprise an individual product which is to be packed, or several products to be packed, in particular several grouped products. When reference is made hereinafter to products in the plural, this should also include the possibility that the product composition comprises only one single product which is to be packed.

Optionally, the product composition can comprise an underlay, in particular of cardboard or board, on which the products which are to be packed are arranged. The underlay can be, for example, what is referred to as a tray or pad. Instead of such an underlay, the product composition can comprise, for example, a packaging, in particular of cardboard or board, in which the products which are to be packed are at least partially surrounded on all sides. In the situation in which the product composition comprises such an underlay or such a packaging, provision is made for the purpose that the products which are to be packed are packed on the packaging line together with the underlay or the packaging with the said packaging material.

It is preferred if the product composition is packed in such a way that, with the packaging formed from the packaging material, the initial portion of the second packaging material reel lies further on the outside than the packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel which overlaps with the initial portion of the second packaging material reel.

Purposefully, the first packaging material reel is arranged on a first mandrel, mounted such as to be capable of rotating, while the second packaging material reel is arranged on a second mandrel which is mounted such as to be capable of rotating. In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, after the joining of the said two packaging material portions, the position of both mandrels is changed, preferably by a pivoting movement of both mandrels, wherein the first mandrel is brought into the previous position of the second mandrel, and the second mandrel is brought into the previous position of the first mandrel. In this way, the situation can be attained in which the drawing of the packaging material from the respective active reel always takes place from the same position of the active reel. As a result, the situation can be attained in which the packaging material portions of the active reel which are to be joined and the storage reel always overlap in the same way. That is to say, the overlapping can take place in such a way that the initial portion of the storage reel always lies above or always beneath.

The change of position of the two mandrels advantageously takes place in an automated manner by means of one or more drive devices. Preferably, at the change of position the first mandrel and the second mandrel are pivoted about a fixed pivot axis parallel to the respective mandrel axis.

In a preferred manner, the change of position of the two mandrels takes place in the following time sequence: When the packaging material is drawn off from the first packaging material reel, and when the packaging material is being conveyed from the first packaging material reel to the packaging line, the first mandrel with the first packaging reel is in a first position. At the joining of the said two packaging material portions, the first mandrel with the first packaging material reel continues to be in the first position, while the second packaging material reel is located in a second position. After joining, the first mandrel is brought into the second position, preferably after the first packaging material reel has been exchanged against the third packaging material reel, and the second mandrel, with the second packaging material reel, is brought into the first position.

According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two packaging material portions which are to be joined are pressed, during the stamping procedure, between a rotating stamping roller of the stamping device and a counter-surface of the stamping device.

Purposefully, the packaging material is transported, before and/or after the stamping procedure, in the region of the stamping device along a conveying direction. With one advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the stamping roller referred to, to be moved during the stamping procedure, preferably with the aid of a drive unit, perpendicular to the conveying direction, and for the counter-surface to be fixed. Purposefully, the stamping roller is in this case moved away during the stamping process, at least over a distance which is equal to the width of the respective packaging material reel.

With another advantageous embodiment variant of the invention, provision is made for the stamping roller to exhibit an axis aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the counter-surface is a circumferential surface of a further rotating stamping roller, the axis of which is aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction. In this case, both the stamping rollers preferably exhibit a predetermined distance interval from one another before the stamping procedure. For the stamping procedure, the distance interval between the stamping rollers is preferably reduced sufficiently far for the packaging material portions which are to be joined to be pressed between the stamping rollers. In this situation, provision can be made for one of the two stamping rollers remains in its position, while the other stamping roller is moved onto it. As an alternative, both stamping rollers can be moved onto one another.

The stamping pattern produced during the stamping procedure comprises, in the conveying direction, preferably a smaller number of stamping points than perpendicular to the conveying direction. In this way the situation can be attained that the connection in the conveying direction (under traction) can be subjected to relatively powerful loading, while the connection perpendicular to the overlapping plane is easily detachable.

The packaging installation according to the invention comprises a packaging line for the packaging of the products which are to be packaged with a packaging material, and a supply device for supplying the packaging line with the packaging material. The said supply device comprises the following:

-   -   a first mandrel mounted such as to be capable of rotation, for         holding and unwinding a second packaging material reel, and     -   a joining device for joining an initial portion of the second         packaging material reel with a packaging material portion of the         first packaging material reel, which has already been drawn off         and overlaps with the initial portion of the second packaging         material reel.

The packaging installation according to the invention is characterised in that the joining device is formed as a stamping device, and is configured such as to join the two said packaging material portions to one another by means of a stamping procedure.

The advantages referred to in connection with the method according to the invention also applies analogously to the packaging installation according to the invention, and vice-versa. Moreover, the method according to the invention is preferably carried out with the aid of the packaging installation according to the invention.

Advantageously, the packaging installation is configured such as to process different types of packaging material, such as film, in particular shrink film, and paper.

Preferably, the packaging installation comprises an independent drive motor for each of the two mandrels, in particular an independent servomotor, for driving the individual mandrels.

With one advantageous embodiment of the packaging installation, provision is made for the two mandrels to be mounted so as to change position in such a way that the two mandrels can exchange position with one another, preferably by a pivoting movement of both mandrels. In particular, the first mandrel and the second mandrel can be pivoted about a fixed pivot axis parallel to the respective mandrel axis, which is preferably arranged midway between the two mandrels.

Preferably, the stamping device of the packaging installation has a stamping roller which is mounted such as to be rotatable, and a counter-surface. The stamping device is preferably configured in such a way that, during the stamping operation the two packaging material portions which are to be joined are pressed between the stamping roller and the counter-surface.

It is additionally purposeful if the stamping device comprises a conveying device for conveying the packaging material, which is configured such as to transport the packaging material in the region of the stamping device along a conveying direction.

The stamping roller of the stamping device can be moved, for example, perpendicular to the conveying direction. In this case, the stamping device is preferably configured such that, during the stamping operation, it presses the two packaging material portions which are to be joined between the stamping roller and the counter-surface, with the counter-surface remaining stationary. The term “remaining stationary” is to be understood in this situation to mean that the counter-surface does not move conjointly when the stamping roller moves.

The said counter-surface can be, for example, a surface over which the packaging material is guided. If appropriate, the counter-surface can be provided with suction openings for the suctioning and fixing of the packaging material by means of negative pressure.

With the embodiment in which the stamping roller of the stamping device can be moved perpendicular to the conveying direction, the stamping device can comprise, for example, a guide rail running perpendicular to the conveying direction, and a carriage which can be moved along the guide rail, on which the stamping roller is mounted such as to rotate.

According to an alternative embodiment, the stamping device of the packaging installation can comprise, in addition to the stamping roller already referred to, a further rotatable stamping roller. In this case, provision can be made for the said counter-surface to be a circumferential surface of the further stamping roller, and the two stamping rollers can be moved relative to one another. In this situation, both the stamping rollers can be moved. As an alternative, one of the two stamping rollers can be arranged in a fixed position, while only the other of the two stamping rollers. Preferably, with this embodiment the axis of the respective stamping roller is aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction.

The respective stamping roller preferably has a structured surface with a plurality of elevations, in particular elevations arranged equidistant to one another. The elevations can be, for example, conical or pyramid-shaped.

It is further advantageous if the supply device of the packaging installation comprises one or more sensors for measuring the diameter of a packaging material reel. Preferably, the supply device comprises a separating device, by means of which the separation procedure referred to heretofore can be carried out, during which, after the joining of the two said packaging material portions, the packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel which is joined to the initial portion of the second packaging material reel can be separated from the part of the first packaging material reel which is still wound up.

It is further purposeful if the packaging installation comprises a cutting station arranged downstream of the stamping device, and a cutting station arranged upstream of the packaging line, for cutting an uninterrupted material web of the packaging material. Advantageously, each product composition which is to be packed is packed with such a packaging material.

Optionally, the packaging line can comprise a shrink tunnel for the heat-shrinking of the packaging material. As an alterative or in addition, the packaging line can comprise one or more adhesive nozzles for applying adhesive onto the packaging material, and/or one or more folding devices for folding or attaching fold tabs.

Provision can further be made for the supply device to comprise a buffer device, arranged behind the stamping device, for intermediate storage of the packaging material.

The description provided heretofore of preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention contains features which are reproduced in the individual dependent claims, which in part are combined to form several collective features. These features can, however, also purposefully be regarded individually, and combined to form further rational combinations. In particular, these features can in each case be individually combined in any desired combination with the method according to the invention and/or the packaging installation according to the invention.

The properties, features, and advantages of the invention described, as well as the manner in which these are attained, will be explained in greater detail, clearly and understandably, in connection with the following description of the exemplary embodiments, and in connection with the drawings. The exemplary embodiments serve to explain the invention, and do not restrict the invention to the combination of features indicated therein, and also not in relation to functional features. As well as this, suitable features of each exemplary embodiment can also explicitly be regarded in isolation, introduced into another exemplary embodiment in order to supplement it, and/or combined with any other of the claims as appropriate.

The figures show:

FIGS. 1-4 a first exemplary embodiment of a packaging installation according to the invention, in four different states;

FIGS. 5 & 6 a second exemplary embodiment of a packaging installation according to the invention, in two different states.

FIG. 1 shows schematically a packaging installation 1 for the packaging of products 2, in particular of beverage containers, with a packaging material 3.

The packaging installation 1 comprises a packaging line 4 with a conveying means 5, on which the products 2 to be packed are transported along a transport direction 6, a wrapping module 7, and a folding and adhesive bonding module 8. The packaging installation 1 further comprises a supply device 9 for supplying the packaging line 4 with the packaging material 3.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the packaging material 3 is paper, in particular printed paper. The products 2 which are to be packed are, in this present example, beverage cans, wherein the packaging installation 1 can in principle also be suitable for the packaging of other beverage containers, such as glass or plastic bottles.

By means of the conveying means 5 of the packaging line 4, product combinations 10 which are to be packed are transported one behind another at a predetermined distance interval along a said transport direction 6. Each product combination 10 comprises several grouped products 2, as well as a product underlay 11, on which the grouped products 2 are arranged. The product underlay 11 can be configured, for example, as what is referred to as a tray.

The respective product combination 10 which is to be packed is conveyed, with the aid of the conveying means 5, as an unpacked product combination 10 a to the wrapping module 7 of the packaging line 4. In the wrapping module 7, the respective product combination 10 is wrapped around with the packaging material 3 in such a way that the packaging material 3 encloses the upper side, the under side, and, related to the transport direction 6, the front and rear sides of the product combination 10. Laterally, related to the transport direction 6, the packaging material 3 stands at a distance from the respective product combination 10, and forms what are referred to as folding tabs. Next, the respective product combination 10 is transported with the aid of the conveying means 5 to the folding and adhesive bonding module 8, in which the folding tabs are provided with adhesive, in particular by means of adhesive nozzles, and are folded with the aid of folding devices. Downstream of the folding and adhesive application module 8, the respective product composition 10 leaves the packaging line 4 as a packed product combination.

The packaging line 4 is provided by the supply device 9 of the packaging installation 1 with the packaging material 3 with which the products 2 and the product combinations 10 are packed.

The supply device 9 comprises a first mandrel 12, mounted such as to rotate, and a second rotatably mounted mandrel 13. For each of the two mandrels 12, 13, the supply device 9 comprises an individual drive motor (not represented in the Figures), in particular a servomotor, for driving the respective mandrel 12, 12.

As can be seen from FIG. 1 , on the first mandrel 12 a first packaging material reel is arranged, while a second packaging material reel 15 is arranged on the second mandrel 13. In the state which is represented in FIG. 1 , the second packaging material reel 15 forms a storage reel. That is to say, the first packaging material reel 14 forms that reel from which the packaging material 3 is drawn off and conveyed to the packaging line 4.

The two packaging material reels 14, 15 have the same width, wherein this is greater than the width of the product combinations 10 which are to be packed. In the present case, the width of the packaging material reels 14, 15, or of the product combinations 10 which are to be packed is to be understood to mean that dimension which extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1 .

Both mandrels 12, 13 are mounted such as to pivot about a fixed pivot axis 16, arranged between the two mandrels 12, 13, which runs parallel to the two mandrel axes. With the aid of a drive unit (not represented in the Figures), the two mandrels 12, 13 are pivoted in a common or simultaneous pivot movement about the said pivot axis 16.

In order to be able to join a packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel 14 to a packaging material portion of the second packaging material reel 15, the supply device 9 comprises a stamping device 17, which is described in greater detail hereinafter.

In order to draw off the packaging material 3, and convey the packaging material 3 to the packaging line 4, the supply device 9 comprises a conveying device 19, in turn comprising several driven conveying rollers 18. In the region of the stamping device 17, the packaging material 3 is transported with the aid of the conveying device 19 along a predetermined conveying direction 20, in particular horizontal.

Downstream of the stamping device 17, the supply device 9 comprises a buffer device 21 for the intermediate storage of the packaging material 3. In the present exemplary embodiment, the buffer device 21 comprises several upper deflection rollers 22 a, as well as several lower deflection rollers 22 b, at which the packaging material 3 is deflected on its way to the packaging line 4, wherein the distance interval between the upper deflection rollers 22 a and the lower deflection rollers 22 b is adjustable. In order to increase the amount of the packaging material 3 in intermediate storage in the buffer device 21, the distance interval between the upper deflection rollers 22 a and the lower deflection rollers 22 b is enlarged. Conversely, the distance interval between the upper deflection rollers 22 a and the lower deflection rollers 22 b is decreased in order to reduce the quantity of packaging material 3 in intermediate storage in the buffer device 21.

In addition, the supply device 9 can comprise a dancing roller (not represented in the Figures). This is a device which serves to hold the packaging material 3 under tension. Typically, a dancing roller comprises two deflection roller units which can be pivoted relative to one another. In order to impose greater tension on the packaging material 3, these two units are pivoted away from one another. Conversely, the two units are pivoted towards one another in order to reduce the tension on the packaging material 3.

Upstream of the buffer device 21, the supply device 9 comprises a cutting station 23. This serves the purpose of cutting the packaging material 3, which up as far as the cutting station 23 is present in the form of an uninterrupted web, into individual packaging material pieces, with which in each case the products 2 or product combinations 10 which are to be packaged are packed on the packaging line 4.

The stamping device 17 referred to heretofore comprises a guide rail 24, of which the longitudinal extension runs perpendicular to the said conveying direction 20 in the region of the stamping device 17. That is to say, the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 24 runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1 . As well as this, the stamping device 17 comprises a stamping roller 25 and a carriage 26, which can be moved in linear fashion along the guide rail 24, on which the stamping roller 25 is rotatably mounted. The axis 27 of the stamping roller 25 runs along the said conveying direction 20. In addition to this, the stamping device 17 comprises a beam-shaped underlay 28, made, for example, of aluminium. The stamping roller 25 is mounted, for example by means of one or more springs, in such a way that the stamping roller 25 presses with a predetermined pressing force against a surface of the underlay 28, designated hereinafter as the counter-surface 29. The stamping device 17 further comprises a drive unit (not represented in the Figures) for driving the carriage 26. This can be, for example, a working cylinder or comprise a working cylinder.

Optionally, the underlay 28 comprises on its counter-surface 29 a number of suction openings, and is connected to a negative pressure source 30, for example in the form of a vacuum pump. The negative pressure source 30 produces a negative pressure at the suction openings, with which the packaging material 3 is suctioned to the counter-surface 29.

The supply device 9 further comprises, upstream of the stamping device 17, a separating device 31, which in each case comes into use after the joining of the twp packaging material portions by means of the stamping device 17.

The supply device further comprises a measuring sensor 32 for measuring the diameter of a packaging material reel, and a control device 33 connected to the measuring sensor 32, in the data memory of which a control algorithm is stored. In the state represented in FIG. 1 , the diameter of the first packaging material reel 14 is monitored with the aid of the measuring sensor 32. In this situation the measuring sensor 32 generates a measuring signal, which is dependent on the diameter of the first packaging material reel 14, and sends this to the control device 33. The control device 33 controls, among other items, the stamping device 17, the conveying device 19, the buffer device 21, the separating device 30, the cutting station 23, the drive motors for the mandrels 12, 13, and the drive units referred to heretofore, as a function of the measuring signal generated by the measuring sensor 32.

As mentioned heretofore, in the state of the packaging installation 1, as represented in FIG. 1 , the first packaging material reel 14 forms the active reel. That is to say, the packaging material 3 is drawn off from the first packaging material reel 14 and conveyed to the packaging line 4. In this situation, the first mandrel 12 rotates at a predetermined rotation speed in the draw-off rotation direction (anti-clockwise in the view from FIG. 1 ), wherein the rotation speed is dependent on the diameter of the first packaging material reel 14. Conversely, the second mandrel 13 remains stationary. In the state from FIG. 1 , the first packaging material reel 14 has a diameter which still approximates the original diameter.

When it is determined with the aid of the measuring sensor 32 that the diameter of the first packaging material reel 14 has fallen below a predetermined diameter limit value (in other words, the first packaging material reel 14 is at least partially used up), the quantity of the packaging material 3 stored in the buffer device 21 is increased, in that the distance interval is increased between the upper deflection rollers 22 a and the lower deflections rollers 22 b of the buffer device 21.

The first mandrel 12 is then brought to a standstill. Next, an initial portion 23 of the second packaging material reel 15, in the region of the stamping device 17, is brought into congruency above a packaging material portion 35 of the first packaging material reel 14 which has already been drawn off (see FIG. 2 ).

Next, the initial portion 34 of the second packaging material reel 15 and the packaging material portion 35 of the first packaging material reel 14, already drawn off, are joined to one another by means of the stamping device 17 by a stamping operation. For this purpose, the carriage 25, together with the stamping roller 25 mounted on the carriage 26, with the aid of the drive unit (not shown) of the stamping device 17, is moved over the entire width of the two packaging material portions 34, 36 which are to be joined, perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1 . In this situation, the packaging material portions 34, 36 which are to be joined are pressed between the rotating stamping roller 25 of the stamping device 17 and the counter-surface 29 of the stamping device 17. Preferably, the initial portion 34 of the second packaging material reel 15 is connected directly to the other packaging material portion 35 at a transverse edge.

FIG. 2 shows the packaging installation 1 from FIG. 1 in a state in which the two said packaging material portions 34, 35 have been brought into congruency overlap with one another in the region of the stamping device 17.

While the first mandrel 12 is at a standstill, the packaging line 4 is supplied by means of the buffer device 21 with the packaging material 3, wherein the distance interval between the upper deflection rollers 22 a and the lower deflection rollers 22 b of the buffer device 21 is continuously reduced.

After the joining of the two packaging material portions 34, 35, the said packaging material portion 35 of the first packaging material reel 14 is separated by means of the separation device 31 from the part of the first packaging material reel 14 which is still wound up. Next, the first mandrel 12 is rotated counter to its original direction of rotation (i.e. clockwise in the view from FIG. 2 ), until the packaging material portion 36, which, up until before the separation process from the first packaging material reel 14 extended as far as the separation device 21, is again wound up on the packaging material reel 14.

After the separation procedure, the second packaging material reel 15 forms the active reel. That is to say, the packaging material 3 is now drawn off from the second packaging material reel 15 and conveyed to the packaging line 4. In order to unwind the packaging material 3 from the second packaging material reel 15, the second mandrel 13 is now rotated. In this situation, the second mandrel 13 is first accelerated from a standstill until a predetermined rotation speed has been reached.

Furthermore, after the second packaging material reel 15 has become the active reel, the positions of the two mandrels 12, 13, and therefore also the positions of the two packaging material reels 14, 15, are exchanged. In this situation, the first mandrel 12 is brought into the previous position of the second mandrel 13, while the second mandrel 13 is brought into the previous position of the first mandrel 12. The position exchange of the two mandrels takes place by a mutual pivot movement of the two mandrels 12, 13 about the pivot axis 16 referred to heretofore. In the view from FIG. 2 , the two mandrels 12, 13 are pivoted in the clockwise direction about the pivot axis 16. During the pivot movement, the second mandrel 13 is driven in such a way that the tension of the packaging material 3, which is drawn off from the second packaging material reel 15 and conveyed to the packaging line 4, remains constant or essentially constant.

The part piece of the packaging material 3, which comprises the joining point at which the two said packaging material portions 34, 35 are joined to one another, is not screened out, but is used in order to pack a product composition 10 on the packaging line 4. This product composition 10, with the said part piece of the packaging material 3 which comprises the joining point, is packed on the packaging line 4 in such a way that, with the packaging formed from the packaging material 3, the initial portion 34 of the second packaging material reel 15 lies further outside than the said packaging material portion 35 of the first packaging material reel 14.

FIG. 3 shows the packaging installation 1 from FIGS. 1 & 2 after the position change of the two mandrels 12, 13. In this state, the diameter of the second packaging material reel 15 is now monitored by means of the measuring sensor 32.

After the position change of the two mandrels 12, 13, the first packaging material reel 14 is replaced by a third, unused packaging material reel 37 (see FIG. 4 ), which forms the new store reel.

FIG. 4 shows the packaging installation from FIGS. 1-3 after the replacement of the first packaging material reel 14 against the third packaging material reel 37.

When the second packaging material reel 15 has been used up (i.e. its diameter has fallen below the predetermined diameter limit value), the process which has been described heretofore with the second packaging material reel 15 and the third packaging material reel 37 is repeated, and so on.

The following description of a further exemplary embodiment is restricted primarily to the differences in relation to the preceding exemplary embodiment, to which reference is made with respect to the features and functions which remain the same. Elements which are the same and/or correspond to one another are, inasmuch as serves the purpose, are designated by the same reference numbers. Features of the foregoing exemplary embodiment which are not referred to hereinafter are adopted in the further exemplary embodiment without them being described once again.

FIG. 5 shows schematically a further packaging installation 38 for the packaging of products 2, in particular of beverage containers, with a packaging material 3.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the packaging material 3 is a shrinkable film, in particular printed shrink film. Unlike in the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1-4 , in this present exemplary embodiment the product compositions 10 which are to be packed do not comprise a product underlay, arranged on which are the products 2 to be packed. In principle, however, it would also be possible for a product underlay to be provided in this present exemplary embodiment 10 with the respective product composition 10.

Instead of a folding and adhesive application module, in the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 5 the packaging line 4 comprises, downstream of the wrapping module 7, a shrink tunnel 39, in which the packaging material 3 is thermally shrunk.

With the packaging installation 38 from FIG. 5 , provision is also made for a stamping device 40. This comprises a first stamping roller 41, mounted such as to rotate, and a second stamping roller 42, mounted such as to rotate. The axis of the respective stamping roller 41, 42, runs perpendicular to the conveying direction 20, along which the packaging material 3 is conveyed in the region of the stamping device 40. Both stamping rollers 41, 42 exhibit a width which is at least as large as the width of the two packaging material reels 14, 15.

The first stamping roller 41 is coupled to a drive unit 43, for example in the form of a working cylinder. With the aid of the drive unit 43, which is controlled by the control device 33, the first stamping roller 41 is moved towards the second stamping roller 42 and away from it respectively. In order to join two packaging material portions to one another with the stamping device 40 by a stamping operation, the two packaging material portions to be joined are pressed between the two stamping rollers 41, 42. This is achieved by the first stamping roller 41 being moved against the second stamping roller 42 when the two packaging material portions to be joined are located between the stamping rollers 41, 42. In this situation, the second stamping roller 42 forms the counter-surface 29 required for the stamping operation.

During the stamping operation, the packaging material portions which are to be joined to one another advantageously run between the two stamping rollers 41, 42. With the aid of the stamping device 40 it is therefore possible for two packaging material portions which are to be joined, from the two packaging material reels 14, 15, to be joined to one another without it being necessary, during the stamping operation, to interrupt the unwinding of the packaging material 3 from the respective packaging material reels 14, 15. As a result, it is in principle possible to do without the buffer device of the type described heretofore. Nevertheless, in the present exemplary embodiment provision can also be made for such a buffer device, in order for packaging material 3 to be temporarily stored if the need arises.

In the state of the packaging installation 20 which is represented in FIG. 5 , the first packaging material reel 14 is the active reel, wherein the first packaging material reel 14 has a diameter which still corresponds approximately to its original diameter. As can be seen from FIG. 5 , the two stamping rollers 41, 42 are in this situation spaced at a distance apart from one another.

FIG. 6 shows the packaging installation 38 from FIG. 5 , after the diameter of the first packaging material reel 14 has fallen below a predetermined diameter limit value, during a stamping operation, in which an initial portion 34 of the second packaging material reel 15 is joined to an already drawn off packaging material portion 35 of the first packaging material reel 14. In this state, the two said packaging material portions 34, 35 are pressed between the two stamping rollers 41, 42.

In principle, with the packaging installation 1 from FIG. 1-4 , it is possible for its stamping device 17 to be replaced by the stamping device 40 of the packaging installation 38. Conversely, it is possible, with the packaging installation 38 from FIGS. 5 & 6 , for its stamping device 40 to be replaced by the stamping device 17 from the packaging installation 1 from FIGS. 1-4 , wherein, in this case, the packaging installation 38 from FIGS. 5 & 6 also to be advantageously equipped with a buffer device of the type described heretofore.

It is further possible, with each of the two packaging installations 1, 38, for the packaging line 4 to comprise both a folding and adhesive application module as well as a shrink tunnel. This is particularly advantageous when the respective packaging installation 1, 38 is intended to be suitable for processing both paper as well as shrinkable film as the packaging material.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

-   1 Packaging installation -   2 Product -   3 Packaging material -   4 Packaging line -   5 Conveying means -   6 Transport direction -   7 Wrapping module -   8 Folding and adhesive application module -   9 Supply device -   10 Product composition -   10 a Unpacked product composition -   10 b Packed product composition -   11 Product underlay -   12 First mandrel -   13 Second mandrel -   14 First packaging material reel -   15 Second packaging material reel -   16 Pivot axis -   17 Stamping device -   18 Conveying roller -   19 Conveying device -   20 Conveying direction -   21 Buffer device -   22 a Upper deflection roller -   22 b Lower deflection roller -   23 Cutting station -   24 Guide rail -   25 Stamping roller -   26 Carriage -   27 Axis -   28 Underlay -   29 Counter-surface -   30 Negative pressure source -   31 Separating device -   32 Measuring sensor -   33 Control device -   34 Initial portion, packaging material portion -   35 Packaging material portion -   36 Packaging material portion -   37 Third packaging material reel -   38 Packaging installation -   39 Shrink tunnel -   40 Stamping device -   41 First stamping roller -   42 Second stamping roller -   43 Drive unit 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method for packaging products, the method comprising: drawing off packaging material from a first packaging material reel, and conveying the packaging material to a packaging line where the products are packaged with the packaging material; when the first packaging material reel is at least partially used up, bringing an initial portion of packaging material of a second packaging material reel into congruent overlap with an already drawn off packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel; and using a stamping device for joining the initial portion with the already drawn off packaging material portion in a stamping operation; and subsequent to joining the two packaging material portions, drawing off the packaging material from the second packaging material reel and conveying the packaging material to the packaging line,
 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the packaging material is paper.
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the packaging material is a film material.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the packaging material is a shrink film.
 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the initial portion of the second packaging material reel is connected directly or substantially directly at a transverse edge thereof to the packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel.
 21. The method according to claim 16, which comprises, subsequent to the joining step, separating the packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel, which is joined to the initial portion of the second packaging material reel, from a part of the first packaging material reel which is still wound up, and, after the separation, replacing the first packaging material reel by a third packaging material reel.
 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the third packaging material reel is an unused material reel.
 23. The method according to claim 16, which comprises packing a product composition with the packaging material in the packaging line in such a way that the packaging which is formed for the product composition from the packaging material includes a joint at which the packaging material portions from the first and second packaging material reels are connected to one another.
 24. The method according to claim 23, which comprises packing the product composition in such a way that, with the packaging formed from the packaging material, the initial portion of the second packaging material reel lies farther outside than the packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel which overlaps with the initial portion of the second packaging material reel.
 25. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first packaging material reel is arranged on a first rotatably mounted mandrel, the second packaging material reel is arranged on a second rotatably mounted mandrel, and the method comprises: after joining of the packaging material portions, exchanging relative positions of the mandrels by a pivoting movement of the mandrels, to thereby bring the first mandrel into a previous position of the second mandrel and to bring the second mandrel into the previous position of the first mandrel.
 26. The method according to claim 16, which comprises, during the stamping operation, pressing the packaging material portions between a rotating stamping roller of the stamping device and a counter-surface of the stamping device.
 27. The method according to claim 26, which comprises: before and/or after the stamping operation, transporting the packaging material in a region of the stamping device along a conveying direction; and during the stamping operation, moving the stamping roller perpendicular to the conveying direction while the counter-surface remains stationary; or providing the stamping roller with an axis which is aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the counter-surface being a circumferential surface of a further rotating stamping roller, with an axis thereof aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction.
 28. In a packaging installation for packaging products at a packaging line with a packaging material from a supply device for supplying the packaging line with the packaging material, the supply device comprising: a first rotatably mounted mandrel for holding and unwinding a first packaging material reel; a second rotatably mounted mandrel for holding and unwinding a second packaging material reel; and a joining device for joining an initial portion of the second packaging material reel with a packaging material portion of the first packaging material reel, which has already been drawn off and overlaps with the initial portion of the second packaging material reel; said joining device being a stamping device disposed and configured to join the packaging material portions of the first and second packaging material reels together by way of a stamping operation.
 29. The packaging installation according to claim 28, wherein said first and second mandrels are mounted to be changeable in position, with said mandrels being able to change positions with one another by way of a pivot movement of said mandrels.
 30. The packaging installation according to claim 28, wherein said stamping device comprises a rotatably mounted stamping roller and a counter-surface, and said stamping device is configured, during the stamping operation, to press the packaging material portions that are to be joined in between the stamping roller and the counter-surface.
 31. The packaging installation according to claim 30, wherein said supply device comprises a conveying device for conveying the packaging material in a region of said stamping device along a conveying direction, wherein said stamping roller of said stamping device is movably perpendicular to the conveying direction, and said stamping device is configured such that, during the stamping operation, the packaging material portions that are to be joined are pressed in between said stamping roller and the counter-surface, with the counter-surface being fixed in position.
 32. The packaging installation according to claim 30, wherein said stamping device comprises a further rotatably mounted stamping roller, said counter-surface is a circumferential surface of said further stamping roller, and said stamping rollers are movable relative to one another. 